US-Mexico Cross-Border
Freight Traffic Trends
Geza Pesti, Ph.D., P.E. and Rafael Aldrete-Sanchez, Ph.D.
Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
5th Bi-Annual Border to Border Transportation Conference
McAllen, Texas
November 18-20, 2014
Objectives
• Update trends and statistics in
freight activities across the USMexico border
• Identify unexpected changes.
Approach
Analyze cross-border freight by
• Mode of transport
• Ports and destination states
• Commodities
• Average Wait Times of
Commercial Vehicles at POEs
Surface Trade between U.S. and Mexico
19%
28%
23%
18%
11%
13%
12%
7%
5%
0%
500
-5%
15%
13%
10%
2%
1%
-1%
-14%
300
2007 Global
Financial Crisis
200
Early 2000s
Recession
100
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
0
1995
Billions USD
400
Surface Trade between U.S. and Mexico
250
Imports
Exports
150
Exports
44%
100
Imports
56%
50
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
0
2004
Billions USD
200
Trade by Surface Mode
IMPORT
250
Other
5%
Other
2%
Rail
15%
Rail
16%
Truck
82%
Truck
80%
2013
2012
2011
Rail
2009
2006
2013
2008
2012
0
2011
0
2010
50
2009
50
2007
100
2006
100
2005
150
2004
150
Truck
2010
200
2008
Rail
2005
Truck
200
(Billions USD)
2007
(Billions USD)
2004
250
EXPORT
Texas
California
Michigan
22.5%
Illinois
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
50,000
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
100,000
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
200,000
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Millions USD
Surface Trade by US States
States Ranked Based on Value of Goods Traded with Mexico
0.5 %
150,000
-3.5%
7.9%
8.4%
0
Arizona
Freight Flow by Commodities
Change in the freight value was evaluated based on six
commodity groups:
• Group 1: Food, beverages, agricultural commodities (HS-code: 1-24)
• Group 2: Minerals, chemicals, plastic, fossil fuels (HS-code: 25-40)
• Group 3: Wood, fabrics, paper products, books (HS-code: 41-71)
• Group 4: Metals, metallic materials (HS-code: 72-81)
• Group 5: Manufactured goods (HS-code: 82-96)
• Group 6: Other goods (HS-code: 97-99)
Export by Commodity Groups
Laredo, TX
0
10
20
30
40
El Paso
50
60
70
0
10
20
30
Hidalgo
Otay Mesa
0
0
10
10
20
Nogales
0
10
Food, beverages, agricultural
commodities
Minerals, chemicals, plastic,
fossil fuels
2007
2008
Wood, fabrics, paper
products, books
Metals, metallic goods
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Manufactured goods
Other goods
Import by Commodity Groups
Laredo, TX
0
10
20
30
40
Hidalgo
El Paso
50
60
70
0
10
20
30
0
10
Otay Mesa
0
10
20
Nogales
0
10
Food, beverages, agricultural
commodities
Minerals, chemicals, plastic,
fossil fuels
2007
2008
Wood, fabrics, paper
products, books
Metals, metallic goods
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Manufactured goods
Other goods
Import of Manufactured Goods
Laredo, TX
Billion USD
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Nuclear reactors; boilers; machinery and
mechanical appliances; parts thereof
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts
thereof; Sound recorders and reproducers
Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling
stock; and parts and accessories thereof
Optical; photographic; cinematographic;
measuring; checking; precision; medical
instruments
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Import of Minerals, Chemicals, …etc
Laredo, TX
0
2
Billion USD
4
Mineral fuels; mineral oils and products of their
distillation; Bituminous substances; Mineral…
Inorganic chemicals; Organic or inorganic
compounds of precious metals; of rare-earth…
Organic chemicals
Pharmaceutical products
Tanning or dyeing extracts; Tannins and their
derivatives; Dyes; pigments and other…
Essential oils and resinoids; Perfumery;
cosmetic or toilet preparations
Soap; organic surface-active agents; washing
preparations; lubricating preparations;…
Albuminoidal substances; Modified starches;
Glues; Enzymes
Photographic or cinematographic goods
Miscellaneous chemical products
Plastics and articles thereof
Rubber and articles thereof
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
6
8
Average Waiting Times of Commercial Vehicles
Data Collection Period: May 2013 – April 2014
Source: Border Crossing Information System (http://bcis.tamu.edu/)
Zaragoza
World Trade
minutes
0
Pharr
minutes
10 20 30 40 50 60
0
minutes
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
SUN
SUN
SUN
MON
MON
MON
TUE
TUE
TUE
WED
WED
WED
THU
THU
THU
FRI
FRI
FRI
SAT
SAT
SAT
Colombia
Brownsville
minutes
0
BOTA
minutes
10 20 30 40 50 60
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
minutes
0
10 20 30 40 50 60
SUN
SUN
SUN
MON
MON
MON
TUE
TUE
TUE
WED
WED
WED
THU
THU
THU
FRI
FRI
FRI
SAT
SAT
SAT
10 20 30 40 50 60
Summary
Findings
•
•
•
•
Trade has quadrupled from 1995 to 2013.
Imports exceeded U.S. exports by 15-20 %.
Freight by trucks are 4-5 times higher than rail
Freight at Texas POEs is more than in the other
three states combined.
• Manufactured goods are the highest value
commodity shipped across the border (both
ways).
• Import of manufactured goods has significantly
decreased in 2013.
• Import of minerals, chemicals, plastic, fossil
fuels has significantly increased in 2013.